The Global Shapers Community is a network of young leaders aged 18 to 30 who work through city-based hubs to address local and global challenges. Founded in 2011 by Klaus Schwab, the initiative emerged from the observation that young people, despite being profoundly affected by major global issues, lacked representation in decision-making processes.
Today, the organization spans over 500 hubs across more than 150 countries, comprising more than 11,000 active members and 8,000 alumni. The Geneva Hub serves as a particularly prominent anchor, leveraging Switzerland's diplomatic landscape to facilitate international collaboration while addressing community-level concerns.
The community operates through a decentralized model where members self-organize to implement grassroots projects. These initiatives address pressing issues including climate change, education inequality, public health, human rights, and technology governance. The Athens Hub's ReGeneration program exemplifies this approach, having delivered over 510,000 training hours and secured more than 2,000 job placements with 800 hiring partners, generating approximately 15 million euros in salaries for participants.
Members engage through workshops, regional SHAPE events, and the annual Global Shapers Community Summit, which convened 500 young innovators in Geneva in 2024. The organization emphasizes skill development in project management, conflict resolution, and leadership, guiding young professionals toward civic engagement.
Structurally, the Global Shapers Community remains connected to the World Economic Forum but operates with considerable autonomy at the hub level. This balance between centralized support and local decision-making enables members to develop solutions tailored to their communities while contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.